Essex house fire father ‘fought hard’ to save his family, police say

The man who lost his wife and four of their five children in a suspected arson attack at their home in Harlow, Essex, ‘fought hard’ to save his family, police have said.

Sabah Usmani (centre) and four of her five children died in the blaze (Picture: Facebook)

Abdul Shakour, like his wife Sabah Usmani a doctor, is being treated for severe smoke inhalation in the intensive care unit in Princess Alexandra Hospital where he works.

He survived the fire at their two-storey, terraced house in Barn Mead in the early hours of the morning along with three-year-old daughter Maheen, who is in a critical condition at a specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital.

Dr Usmani, 44, died at the scene along with sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and daughter Hira, 12, while nine-year-old son Muneeb died in hospital.

Essex police said Dr Shakour was in a stable condition and being attended to by specially trained family liaison officers.

Despite being in a severe state of shock Dr Shakour is ‘desperate to support’ the police investigation, Gary Beautridge, head of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, told journalists.

Assistant Chief Constable Beautridge said a number of lines of enquiry were being investigated and that there was ‘no information’ to suggest the fire was linked to the family’s race or faith.

Parvez Hamid, 43, and Safia Anwar, 38, said they had known the family since they moved to the area. They said the couple, originally from Karachi, Pakistan, had previously lived in Saudi Arabia and Manchester before moving to Harlow.

‘They were a wonderful family. The children were best friends with our own,’ Mrs Anwar said.

‘We would seem them at mosque and at the school gates. They were just such a lovely family. I last saw Sabah on Friday. She seemed normal with no worries at all.’

Mrs Anwar continued: ‘I heard what happened from a friend who lived nearby. It has come as such a shock to us all and it is still sinking in. We are absolutely devastated.’

Mr Hamid added: ‘They were hardworking parents who will be missed. The Asian community is very tight knit in this area and we are all in shock.’

Firefighters were called to the property at around 1.45am and found flames coming out of both the front and back doors at the two-storey terraced house.

Essex Fire and Rescue chief fire officer David Johnson said the family had died despite ‘desperate and frantic’ attempts to save them.

He told journalists fire crews braved ceiling temperatures of 1,000C to rescue everyone trapped inside the house, but that the mother and three of her children died at the scene.

Tragic: Five people died in the fire (Picture: PA)

Mr Johnson confirmed that a car, not owned by the tragic family, was also set alight in the same street, and that it was ‘beyond coincidence’ that the two fires were not linked.

Essex police senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson said: ‘This is still the early stages of our investigation into the tragic deaths of five members of one family – a mother and four of her young children.

‘At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information to contact us.’

He added: ‘For the sake of the family, who are trying to come to terms with this tragic incident, I would ask for information from the public, especially in the Harlow area, to help us determine exactly what has happened.’

Neighbour and witness Sharon Pavey said the family had only recently moved into the area.

‘I saw flames coming out of the back window and dialled 999 but they were already on their way,’ she said.

‘The flames and smoke were billowing out and we could tell it was very serious. I don’t think many people knew them but we are all in shock and this is very sad news.’